Amalgamator.



J. P. BEAUPRE 11 A. HEIMBAH.

AMALGAMATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23. `1909. 967,158. Patented Aug. 16, 1910. s 'SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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J. P. BBAUPRE E A. HBIMBACH. AMALGAMATOR. APPLICATION Hmm JUNE 23. 1909. 967, 1 58. Patented Aug. 16, 1910.

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J. P. BEAUPRE sa A. HEIMBAGH.

AMALGAMATOR.

" APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23. 1909. 967, 1 5 8., l Patented Aug. 16, 1910.

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JOHN l. BEAUPRE AND AUGUST HEIMBACH, 0F ANACONDA, MONTANA.

AMALGAMATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 16, 1910.

Application led June 23, 1909. Serial No. 503,855.

To all whom it may conca/rfa:

Be it known that we, JOHN P. BEAUPRE and AUGUST HEIMBACH, `citizens of the United States, residing at Anaconda, in the county of Deer-lodge and State of Montana, and Butte, in the county of Silverbow and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amalgamators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in amalgamators, and more particularly to a machine of this character by means of which the gold or other precious metals may be separated from the gangue and other residual deposits.

The primary object of my invention is to provide means by which the above result may be accomplished, and in which the use of water, as generally employedin machines of this character, is eliminated.

Another object is to provide an amalgamator by means of which the minutest particles of gold may be segregated from the sand or gravel, whereby a considerable saving will be accomplished, as this flour gold7 is carried off by the action of the water in machines of this character as at present constructed.

A further object is to provide a suitable trough or table, upon which is disposed a bed of quicksilver as the segregating medium, suitable means being provided by which the quiclrsilver is separated from the sand or other residual deposit after the gold is separated therefrom.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the specilic structure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without V departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming a part `of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improved amalgamator, the trough being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, the graduated cylindrical screen being removed. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a frame, which is supported upon a suitable track 2 by means of the wheels 8 mounted in the lower ends of the uprights of the frame. Inclined bars 4 are secured to the rear' uprights of the frame and a transverse bar 5 is secured to the upper ends thereof. Between the bar 5 and the end of the frame, a hopper 6 is supported and is formed with a suitable discharge spout 7 which extends between the sides of the frame. A suitable feed valve 8 is located at the point of connection of the spout 7 with the hopper (3.

An inclined longitudinal shaft 9 is arranged and supported upon suitable bearings 10, between the sides of the frame l. Secured upon this shaft is the graduated screen 11, the upper end of which is slightly contracted in diameter and receives the lower end of the spout 7. This screen isconstruct* ed of wire netting, and it will be noted that the upper end thereof, in which the material is first deposited, is very closely woven, the mesh of the wire gradually becoming more open toward the lower end thereof. f have shown foursuch graduated portions of the screen, though it will be understood that a greater or less number of graduated sections may be employed. Supported between the sides of the frame, at the lower portion thereof is the longitudinally extending trough 12 which is further braced and supported bythe strut bars 13 which are secured thereto and to the uprights of the frame. Within this trough a bed of quicio silver' is arranged. A downwardly inclined plate 15 is secured in the' rear end of the trough, forming a continuation of the bottom thereof, by means of which the depth of the quiclrsilver is gradually diminished at the rear end of the frame and disposed in the front end thereof there is an upwardly inclined trap plate 16 the lower edge of which is spaced from the bottom of the trough and beneath the upper surface of the quicksilver bed. A transverse trough 17 is located at the forward end of the machine, and communicates with the trough l2 thus forming in effect what is substantially one continuous trough. A plate 18 is arranged in the trough 17, and is suitably supported above the quiclrsilver bed. The trough 17 is ofcourse arranged between the walls 19 of the frame 1. The outer end of the trough 17 isinclined upwardly and a pluralityofsmall plates 2O are arranged above the inclined portion and nearly parallel therewith. The irst of these plates underlaps the plate 18 tinued therebeyond downwardly to the extremity of the frame, from which coarse material is discharged.

Disposed beneath the inclined end 17 of the trough is the air pipe 22. Branch pipes are connected therewith and extend through the inclined portion of the trough 17. The

l main supply pipe also extends through the partition 21 to the rear thereof and is inclined upwardly through a guide 23 secured to the frame and arranged in parallel relation to the downwardly inclined plates 20, a suitable silver bed being disposed therebeneath as shown. Hand valves 24 are arranged upon the pipe 22 and control the supply of air, which may be obtained from any suitable source, not shown. Transversely spaced endless bands 25 are supported over the Quicksilver bed 14 upon the rollers 26, and spaced transversely extending cleats 27 are carried therebetween. These cleats have secured to one of theirv edges the rubber strips 28. The rollers 2G are secured upon the shafts 29, and a band wheel 30 is secured upon the rear roller shaft around which the power band 31 passes. This band is supported by suitable guide rolls 32 and the opposite ends thereof pass around the pulley 33 secured upon the power shaft 34. Endless belts 35 are also arranged over the trough 17 and extend in parallel relation to the horizontal and inclined portions thereof. These belts are likewise provided with the transverse cleats 27 and the rubber strips 28. The belts 35 are supported upon the rollers 36 rotatably mounted in the frame 1, guide rolls 37 and al roll 38 mounted in the outer transverse end of the frame, the shaft 39 of which extends beyond the end of the frame and is supported in a suitable bearing 40. A band wheel 41 is secured upon this shaft and an endless belt is disposed thereon which extends around a similar wheel 42 secured upon the power shaft 34. A power wheel 43 is also disposed upon the shaft 34 which may receive a driving belt from any suitable source of power. A band wheel 44 is secured to the inclined shaft 9 and is driven by means of the drive belt 45, from the shaft 34 whereby rotary movement is imparted to the screen cylinder 11. Secured in the forward end of the frame 1 and inclined downwardly and extending beyond the same is the discharge spout 46, which is adapted to receive and discharge the rocks and other material after the same have passed through the screen cylinder.

In operation, the mineral bearing rock, sand and gravel are introduced into the hopper from which they are gradually fed into the elevated end of the cylindrical screen 11. Rotary motion being imparted to the screen 11, this material will gradually descend through the various graduated sections of the screen, the gold-bearing Quartz and mineralized black sand dropping through the meshes of the screen upon the Quicksilver arranged directly beneath the same. The larger rocks and other waste material will be discharged from the spout 46. The transverse rubber strips 28 will contact with the plate 15 which is secured in the rear end of the trough 14 and carry the Quicksilver and mineral deposits before it. It will be noted that these strips extend below the surface of the Quicksilver bed and when they have passed beyond the plate 15 the. Quicksilver will flow under the same, retaining the smaller particles of gold or other precious metal with it. The function of the plate 15 is to allow the tine particles falling through the upper end of the screen to be engaged, spread and rolled out thereon by the conveyer strips 28 and mixed thoroughly with the Quicksilver at the same time. These smaller particles of gold are generally termed flour gold` and have heretofore been entirely lost by the use of amalgamators in which a running steam of water was employed in combination with a mercury bed. These minute particles of gold were carried off, together with a considerable amount of mercury by the force of the water. By employing a bed of quicksilver as the segregating medium, these finer particles are saved, and upon the continued travel of the belt 25 the strips 28 will contact with the larger particles of gold which have been deposited through the comparatively wide mesh of the forward end of the screen 11. These particles are of such weight as to descend entirely through the Quicksilver bed, and are moved along the bottom of the trough and finally brought under the trap plate 1G arranged in the forward end thereof. The mineralizcd sand, gangue and other residual material being of a less specific gravity is carried forward over the plate 16 onto the transverse plate 18. Its movement is then continued in a transverse direction by means of the strips 28 secured to the belts The material is moved along the surface of the plate 18 and up the inclined plates 20. This treatment is of especial importance, as the small particles of sand or other mineral bearing matter are rolled over and over under the strips 28 in a. small Quantity of Quicksilver which is also carried over the trap. This rolling effect is also produced in a. degree in the forward end of the trough 12 whereby the multiplicity of small particles are insured of contact with the Quicksilver before the introduction of coarser particles from the screen which prevents thorough action of the strips 28 upon the small particles. The quicksilver which has been carried along by the strips 28 will escape between the overlapped ends of the plates 20, while the sand will be thrown out by the force of the air from the branch pipes 20 which protrude through the inclined base portion of the trough. This sand, which is of considerable value, descends upon the rear inclined plates 2O and escapes through the same to the quicksliver bed which is arranged beneath. The draft of air intro duced beneath the plates 20 will blow the various residual deposits from between the plates to prevent the clogging of the spaces between the same. The force of the air upon the forward plates 2O is considerably greater than that upon the rear plates, as the mineralized black sand is quite heavy and as the sand is to be deposited to the rear of the partition plate 21, the supply of air at the end of the inclined plate is therefore much less so as to allow the heavy sand to descend while the lighter materials will be blown off and discharged from the end of the frame.

A pipe 47 extends through the partition 21 in the rear end of the transversely disposed trough 17 and communicates with the forward portion thereof, over which the plate 18 is disposed. Thus the quiclrsilver which is carried over the inclined plates 20 and deposited in the rear end of the trough is conducted by means of the pipe 47 to the main portion of the trough, whereby the depth of the quiclrsilver in the troughs will be maintained at a predetermined level.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided an amalgamator by means of which every particle of the precious metal is separated, and as no water is employed in connection with the operation of the machine, any loss of the same is thereby obviated. The rubber strips 28 traveling over the quicksilver bed will catch the finer particles of gold and should any escape beneath one of the strips, it will be accumulated and returned forward by the next succeeding strip 28.

It will of course be understood that any desired means may be employed for imparting rotary movement to the graduated screen 11 and for operating the traveling belts 25 and 35. My improved machine is extremely simple of construction and may also be inexpensively manufactured, the above described combination of elements resulting in a considerable saving in the finer particles of gold and of the mineral black sand which has heretofore been an entire loss.

Vhat we claim is:

1. In an amalgamator, a trough adapted to contain a bed of quicksilver, an endless conveyer member mounted above the trough and having portions adapted to contact with a quicksilver bed in the trough, and an inclined plate arranged in the trough and having its lower edge spaced from the bottom of the trough, said plate to engage the portions of the conveyer contacting with the quiclrsilver for the purpose described.

2. An amalgamator including a trough, conveyer members movable through the trough, an inclined pla-te disposed in said trough with its lower edge in spaced relation with the bottom of the trough, a plurality of overlapping upwardly inclined plates carried at one end of the trough and adapted to receive material carried over the inclined plates by the conveyer' members, and means for directing air between the overlapped plates.

3. An amalgamator, comprising a frame, a trough supported in said frame, said trough having a quiclrsilver bed arranged therein, conveyer members movable through the trough, a downwardly inclined plate secured in the end of one trough forming a shallow portion of the bath, and adapted to be engaged on its upper surface by the con veyer members, an upwardly inclined trap plate supported in the other end of said trough and extending below said quicksilver bed to engage the conveyer members, a plurality of upwardly inclined plates carried over the trough and having spaced overlapping ends, air pipes opening under the inclined plates and a graduated screen rotatably supported above one of said troughs and adapted t-o deliver liner material into the trough to be engaged by the conveyer members during their initial movement through the trough and upon the downwardly inclined plate, said screen being adapted to deliver coarser material into the trough to be engaged by the conveyer mem bers during their intermediate movement through the trough and the deeper part of the bat-h.

4. An amalgamator, comprising a frame, a graduated screen supported in said frame, a trough supported in said frame and ar' ranged beneath said screen to receive matter to be treated directly therefrom, endless belts supported above said trough, transverse cleats secured to said belts, resilient conveyer strips secured to said cleats and extending beneath the surface of said quicki silver bed, the bottom of the trough being inclined upward beneath the tine portion of the screen, a trap plate supported in said trough, a plurality of inclined overlapping plates secured in one end of the trough, air pipes arranged beneath said plates, a partition plate arranged in the rear end of said trough, and a pipe extending through said plate and communicating with the forward portion of the trough; said screen being adapted to discharge the finest particles of matter onto the inclined bottom of the trough for treatment initially by the conveyer strips, and to discharge coarser material progressively in the deeper part of the trough against interference by coarser particles with the action of the conveyer strips upon finer particles.

5. An amalgamator, comprising a frame having a quicksilver bed arranged therein of varying depth, plates supported in said trough, one of said plates being disposed above the quicksilver bed and the other extending below the same, and endless belts mounted above the Quicksilver bed and having resilient transverse conveyer strips se cured thereto, said strips contacting with said plates and extending below the surface of the quicksilver bed.

6. An amalgamator including a trough,

having its bottom inclined downwardly from Y one end, a trap plate inclined upwardly toward the opposite end and having its lower edge spaced from the bottom of the trough, and conveyer members movable through the trough from the inclined end thereof toward the trap plate and adapted for yielding engagement against the inclined bottom of the trough and the trap plate, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof We atlix our signatures, in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses J. A. Poolen,

CHAs. MA'rTIsoN. 

